Traffic lights for controlling the flow of traffic at a traffic crossing



Feb. 20, 1962 M. R. DOSAL 3,022,490

TRAFFIC LIGHTS FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AT A TRAFFIC CROSSINGFiled June 22, 1960 4 Sheets-Shee't 1 s} L s 3 4 v F/G. 2

6-1 R-IZ 'INVENTOR MARTIN ROBERTO DOSAL ATTORNEY Feb. 20, 1962 3,022,490

M. R. DOSAL TRAFFIC LIGHTS FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AT ATRAFFIC CROSSING Filed June 22, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR MARTINROBERTO DOSAL ATTORNEY Feb. 20, 1962 M R DOSAL 3,022,490

TRAFFIC LIGHTS FCR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AT A TRAFFIC CROSSINGFiled June 22, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR MARTiN R0 B ERTO DOSAL' BYfikg ATTORNEY Feb. 20, 1962 M. R. DOSAL 3,022,490

TRAFFIC LIGHTS FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF TRAFFICAT A TRAFFIC CROSSINGFiled June 22, 1960 4 Sheets$heet 4 .z'r-b FIG l2 ROTOR OF E ROTOR OFTRAFFIC |.|sHT#I-#3 TRAFFIC LIGHT=R2-14 R Q \50 srposmon GREEN R 3 RED C2 I A s e z osmou AMBER R 551% RED R #2 R A MR POS'ITION RED 6 4; 3GREEN R *2 A R R R \W/ I POSITION RED A 4* 3 g AMBER (3 *R2 1 G INVEN ORM ART I N ROBERTO DOSAL ATTORNEY 3,622,499 Patented Feb. 20, 1962 ice3,022,490 TRAFFIC LIGHTS FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AT ATRAFFIC CROSSING Martin R. Dosal, P.O. Box 53-62, Miami Shores, Fla.Filed June 22, 1960, Ser. No. 37,933 1 Claim. (Cl. 340-120) My inventionconsists in a new and useful improvement in traffic lights forcontrolling the flow of traflic at a traffic crossing. It is animprovement upon the novel traffic light disclosed and claimed in myco-pending application Serial Number 14,276 (Series of 1960). Thisapplication is a continuation in part of said application Serial Number14,276.

The device herein disclosed is designed to display signals to controlthe flow of traffic in a single trafiic lane.

A plurality of such devices can be provided for controllnig traffic in aplurality of lanes, respectively, at intersections.

This device has the peculiar advantages of the device disclosed in mysaid co-pending application, viz. a single illuminating lamp, aplurality of colored panes, and

means for disposing said panes to display successive colored signals.

The device consists in a casing having a window, in which a light bulbis disposed, a rotor in which are carried the colored panes, and anelectric motor for rotating the rotor. The casing and rotor are sorelated that the bulb directs rays of light through the panes and theWindow to produce the signals.

Similar to the device of my said co-pending application, this device hasa single operating mechanism to While I illustrate in the drawings andhereinafter describe one specific embodiment of my invention, I do notconsider my invention to be limited to said embodiment, but refer forits scope to claim appended hereto.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan of the traflic light.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation. 7

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 33 ofFIG. 2, in the directionof the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section on the line 440f FIG. 1, in the directionof the arrows.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail of the mounting mean for the rotor shown indotted lines in FIG. 4,.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectionon the line 66 of FIG. 2, in the directionof the arrows.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail of a finger for moving the rotor, shown inoperative position.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, the finger being in inoperativeposition.

FIG. 9 is a greatly enlarged side elevation of the illuminating bulb andreflector.

FIG. 10 is a greatly enlarged front elevation of the bulb and reflector.

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view of four traffic lights installed at anintersection of two double-lane trafiic routes.

FIG. 12 is a table indicating the colored signals displayed by the fourtraffic lights shown in FIG. 11.

As shown in the drawings, my improved traffic light has a casing C witha cylindrical wall C-l, a conical cover (3-2, and a bottom C-3 suitablyhinged to the wall 0-1 and having a suitable keeper 0-4. The case C hasa window C-S provided with a transparent pane C-6 and a protective cowl0-7. The cover C-2 has a door C-8 to give access to the upper part ofthe case C.

The case C is suspended by a hanger H from a suitable support S such asa cable mounted on posts (not shown). Y

Mounted in the upper end of the wall C-l there is a horizontal plate C-9(FIG. 6) from which is rotatably suspended a quadrilateral rotor R(FIGS. 4 and 5) by a shaft R-1 mounted in the top R-2 of the rotor R. Aninverted, frusto-conical head R-3 is tapped in the upper end of theshaft R-1 and rotatably carried by a ball-bearing ring R-4 suitablymounted in the plate C-9.

Suitably mounted on the plate C-9 there is a motor M (FIG. 6) such as isused to oscillate-the wiper for a windshield, with an arm M-l having onits free end a depending portion M-2 (FIG. 7) passed through an arcuateslot 0-10 in the plate C-9 (FIG. 6). A sleeve M-3 is threaded on theportion M-2, in which is slidably mounted a finger M-4 biased downwardlyby a coil spring M-5 confined between the lower end of the portion M-2and the upper end of the finger M-4 which has a collar M-6 to retain thefinger M-4 in the sleeve M-3. The finger M-4 has on one side arectilinear face M-7 and on the opposite side an arcuate face M-8.

Suitably mounted on the top R-Z of the rotor R there are four lugs R-6(FIG. 3). Each lug R-6 has a rectilinear face R-7 on one side and anarcuate face R-8 on its opposite side (FIGS. 7 and 8).

It will be noted (FIGS. 6, 7 and 8) that the finger M-4 and the lugs R-6are so disposed and related that, when the arm M-l is swung by the motorM counter.- clockwise (FIG. 6) the rectilinear face M-7 of the fingerM-4 engaging the rectilinear face R-7 of the lug R*6 (FIG. 7) will causethe rotor R to rotate counterclockwise through and that, when the armM-l is swung clockwise, the arcuate face M-8 of the finger M-4 engagingthe arcuate face R-S of the lug R6, camming the finger M-4 against theforce of the spring M-5 (FIG. 6) will cause the finger M-4 to pass overthe lug R-6.

The top R-2 of the rotor R has suitable depressions R-9 (FIG. 3)co-acting with spring fingers R-10 on the underside of the plate 0-9 tohold the rotor R in adjusted positions.

Suitably mounted in the four sides R-11 of the rotor R there are fourtranslucent panels R-12, colored green, amber, red and red,respectively.

An illuminating, electric bulb B is suitably mounted on the inner sideof the bottom 03 of the case C (FIGS. 9 and 10). An adjustable reflectorB-l is mounted adjacent the bulb B. A pair of supporting posts B-2 ismounted on the bottom C-3. Each post B-2 has at its top a horizontalslot B-3 (FIG. 9) through which is passed loosely a bolt B-4 havingthereon a binding nut B-S. The reflector B-1 is mounted on the bolts B-4(FIG. 10) and the nuts B-S engage the posts B-2. The foregoing describedstructure permits adjustment of the reflector B-l to and from the bulb Band about the horizontal axis of the bolts B-4.

An electric conduit E (FIGS. 1, 9 and 10) for current for the bulb B,and an electric conduit E-l (FIGS. 1 and 6) for current for the motor Mare provided.

It is to be understood that when the hinged bottom C-3 of the case C isclosed the bulb will be so registered on the axes of the translucentpanels R-12 as to correctly illuminate the panels R-12 when the bulb Bis energized.

For protection from the elements all joints of the case C are properlysealed.

Light 1 Route I-a. Light 2 Route II-a. Light 3 Route I-b. Light 4 RouteII-b.

FIG. 12 shows the colored light signals produced by the four positionsof rotor R in one revolution.

Having described the details of construction of my improved trafiiclight, I will now describe its use and operation.

It is to be understood that the electric conduit E (FIGS. 1, 9 and 10)carries an electric circuit with a suitable control switch from asuitable source of electricity to the bulb B, and that the electricconduit E-1 (FIGS. 1 and 6) carries an electric circuit from a suitablesource of elect'ricity 'to the motor M and that the latter circuit has asuitable switch controlled by the pr'e-set timer mechanism abovementioned.

When the bulb B is illuminated, it directs rays of light through thetranslucent colored panel 'R-12 (FIG;- 2) positioned behind thetransparent pane C-6 of the window C-5 and through the panes R-1-2 andC-6, to display the desired trafiic signal.

At the expiration of the proper interval for flow of traffic on the lanecontrolled by said signal, the circuit to the motor M is momentarilyclosed by functioning of the switch controlled by the timer mechanismabove mentioned. The motor M, thus energized, swings the arm M-lcounter-clockwise (FIG. 6) and its portion M-Z engaging lug R-6 of therotor R turns the rotor R. The parts are so dimensioned and related thatthe rotor R is moved 90 thus movingthe above-mentioned panel R-12 fromthe window 05 and disposing the succeeding panel R-12 in the window C-5.When the rotor R has been thus moved, it is held in adjusted position bythe spring fingers R-10 in the depressions R-9. The rotor R being thusimmobilized, the arm M1 being swung clockwiseby the motor M causes thefinger M4 moving away from the lug R-6 which has turned the rotor R,passes over the next lug 'R-6 and is positioned for the next turn of therotor R.

From the foregoing, it is seen that each time the motor M is energizedit swings the arm M-l counter-clockwise to move the rotor R, andclockwise to re-set the armlVi-l for the next turn of the rotor R.

As illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 11, trafiic lights 1, 2, 3 and 4can be installed at the intersection of routes I and II having trafiiclanes I-a and I-b and IIa and 1142, respectively, the flow of traffic onwhich is controlled by lights 1, 2, 3 and 4.

It is to be particularly noted (FIG. 11) that my improved lights 1, 2, 3and 4 are especially adapted for use at an intersection of two trafi'icroutes which are not relatively disposed at 90. It will be seen (FIG.11) that each light is so disposed relative its *traific lane that thepath of light rays from the bulb B, through the panels 4 R-12 and thewindow (3-5 is aligned with the lane This desirable result is achievedby providing means for adjusting the case C about the vertical axis ofthe hanger H so that regardless of the angular position of the support Sand the hanger H relative the trafiic lane the case C can be so adjustedthat the light rays are properly projected.

'FIG. 12 indicates the signals produced by lights 1, 2, 3 and 4 duringone complete rotation of the rotor R of each light, viz. (1) lights 1and 3 show green to permit trafiic to flow in lanes I-a and I-b whilelights 2 and 4 show red to stop the flow of trafiic in lanes II-a and11-1: (2) lights 1 and 3 show amber to stop flow of traffic in lanes I-aand I-b while lights 2 and 4- show' red to maintain stoppage of flow oftratfic in lanes II-a and H49, (3) lights 1 and 3 show red to stop flowof traffic in lanes La and I-b while lights 2 and 4 show green to permitflow of traffic in lanes II-a and 11-1), and (4) lights 1 and 3 show redto maintain stoppage of flow of trafiic in lanes I-a and I-b whilelights 2- and 4 show amber to stop flow of traific in lanes II-a andII-b.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

In an apparatus for displaying lights for control of flow of trafiic ina single traffic lane, the combination of a casing adapted to bedisposed above said lane and having a window so disposed as to beobservable from said lane; a quadrilateral rotor journaledin saidcasing; translucent colored panes mounted in said rotor, comprising agreen pane, an amber pane, a first red pane, and a second red pane, saidpanes being adapted to be disposed in said window by rotation of saidrotor; a light source so mounted in-said casing as to direct light raysthrough said panes and said window when said panes are disposed in saidwindow; and means mounted in said casing and adapted to dispose saidrotor in successive positions for four rest periods to so dispose saidpanes as to diplay a green light during one rest period of said rotor,an amber light during the second rest period, a first red light duringthe third rest period, and a second red light during the fourth restperiod, said means to dispose said rotor comprising an operating armjournaled in said casing for oscillation, an electric motor in saidcasing adapted to oscillate said arm when energized, means adapted toenergize said motor, a depending finger on said arm having a slidableportion biased outwardly, said portion having a rectilinear face on oneside and an arcuate face on the opposite side, four lugs symmetricallydisposed on the top of said'rotor, each of said lugs having arectilinear 'face on one side and an arcuate face on the opposite side,

said slidable portion and said lugs being-so relatively disposed that,when said arm-ismoved in one direction, the rectil near face of saidportion engages the rectilinear faces of said lugs to move said rotor,and, when said arm is moved in the opposite direction, the arcuate faceof said portion passes over the arcuate faces of said lugs withoutmoving said rotor.

References llited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,757,050 Johnson May 6, 1,930 1,827,481 Mosher Oct. 13, 1931 2,107,930Braun et al. Feb. 8, 1938

